Bear Naked by Jessica Sims Read Free Book Online Page A

tell?”
    He tapped the side of his big nose. “I can smell it. There’s a subtle change on the breeze.” He nodded at the penguins. “And they’re scattering, heading for shelter.”
    “Oh.” If the penguins were leaving, that was probably bad.
    “You should go,” he said.
    That made me bristle. Such a very final sort of comment. You should go , indeed. “I have a tent,” I said stubbornly. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    “Why not?”
    “I’m staying here until the boat returns.”“You can’t. You have no shelter.”
    “I have a tent.”
    “Your tent won’t be enough.” He gestured at the cove. “There’s buildings in that direction. If you must stay, go into one of those. I’ll help you gather wood. With both of us working on it, you should have enough for a small fire to keep you warm.”
    If you must stay? Don’t sound so thrilled.
    I couldn’t help but notice he was talking about fire keeping me warm, not us warm. “What about you?”
    “I’ll be fine in bear form. I’m used to this sort of thing.” He squinted. “I have a den an island or two over. It’s warm enough.”
    He was going to ride out a big storm in bear form? “How long do you think the weather will last?”
    “Few days. Maybe a week. Like I said, it’s not safe and you should go.” His blue eyes watched me carefully, revealing nothing.
    I suspected that if Leif went back to bear form for a week straight, he might not return. His memory was full of holes as it was. “Why are you trying to get rid of me?” I asked in a stiff voice. It hurt that he was trying to chuck me off of the island. It was almost like he didn’t want me here.
    His blue eyes finally showed an expression - surprise. “I’m not trying to get rid of you, Nikolina. I’m trying to protect you.” He watched me pour water into the thermos. “I’ve been selfish and eaten half your supplies, and you’ve been making me clothes out of your own things. You don’t have a lot of things left. I’m concerned for your safety.”
    He was right about that - I was down to two changes of clothing, and less than half of my food. My sleeping bag was so tattered and abused that I had to hold it together while I slept.
    But…I didn’t want to leave. I was going into heat so very soon. I couldn’t call Mikkel back now. If I did, my cousin would throw me down on the ground and try to mate me.
    Which would be utterly disgusting for both of us.
    “I’m not going anywhere,” I repeated.
    “Why?”
    “My…project isn’t done.” I needed to tell him the truth, but the words weren’t coming out of my mouth. Not yet.
    “No project is more important than your safety.”
    “You’re right,” I said, thinking of my cousin being (shudder) overcome by my mating heat. “That’s why I’m staying.”
    Leif snarled and got to his feet, pacing, the coffee I’d made for him forgotten. “Why are you being so stubborn?”
    “Why are you acting like you have any say in what I do?” I retorted.
    “I’m acting like a man that wants to mate you,” he roared at me. “I thought that was obvious, Nikolina!”
    I reeled, stunned by his words…and his anger. “Mate me?”
    He approached me again, knelt down beside me in his mismatched, piecemeal clothing that I’d made him, and his hand cupped my cheek. “What we shared yesterday in your tent—“
    Oh god. He’d probably been overcome by my mating hormones. Guilt flooded me. “It was just a bath,” I said, feeling panicky.
    “It wasn’t just a bath,” he bit out. “I want you, Nikolina. I—“
    I jerked away from him, hot, emotional tears pouring down my cheeks. “That’s just it, though,” I cried. “You don’t really want me.” It was time to tell him the truth.
    “Yes, I do want you—“
    “No, you don’t,” I said. “Not really. You want Katja, remember?”
    He reeled at my words, and it was like I’d struck him. I watched his magnificent blue eyes dilate as memories flashed through his